School Programs
The History Of American Folk Music
William presents this new show at school assemblies and classrooms. He engages children of all ages to consider what life was like before records and CDs. He explains how songs were heard, learned, and passed on throughout Americas early years. William brings light as to how and why songs were wrote, and how they reflect the different lifestyles and people immigrating to America from different countries.
Americas history can be traced by the music from different regions and periods. William uses song, story, lecture and humor to bring on an understanding of our national history through music.
This show or classroom workshop can be presented to children from first grade to seniors.
From songs such as "I've Been Working On The Railroad" to "This Land Is Your Land" to "Blowing in The Wind" to his original contemporary folk songs, William alters the show and uses the appropriate songs to keep the children or young adults engaged.
Fee:
Generally $500.00 per show or workshop. Fee is sometimes open to negotiation and consideration of what schools in the area are used to paying. Travel fees are sometimes required. This is a one man show and requires little or no technical assistance from the facility.
For more information or bookings contact
William Florian
962 Dorthel St, Sebastopol, CA 95472
707-524-7898
william@florianmusic.com
www.florianmusic.com
Description Of School Assembly Show
William sings and plays guitar, banjo, harmonica, and sometimes other American instruments.
The show is at least 70% music and children are sometimes encouraged to sing along. The rest of the show is some lecture, stories, and humor about the songs and famous American artists. Also included are some highlights of Williams life, how he got into music and the business of performing and how it changed his life.
The songs performed are from the 1700's right up to the present and are from different regions of the country giving examples of the many types of people and folk music that is present in America.
For example:
Folk, Gospel, Country, Bluegrass, Cajun, Cowboy, Native American, Jazz, are all considered American Folk music and were developed in different regions of the country. Songs came out of what was going on in the region at the time. For instance, railroad songs, songs sung by slaves, work songs, love songs, ballads, game songs.
During the performance songs will be sung to give a view of what life was like to the people who wrote and sang them.
Description Of Classroom Workshop
The workshop includes the above plus interactive activities such as writing a new folk song that reflects the life of the students now, more sing a long, playing of instruments, and engaging the students with discussions about regions and what was going on in the lives of people to have written certain songs.
Promo kit, CD, and concert video sampler are available upon request.